Poultry feeder



O. MENDENHALL POULTRY FEEDER 'Ma 22,192s. 1,671,041

Filed June 30, 1924 Patented May 22, 192 8.

, OWEN MENnENHALnoF RUSSlZAVILLE, INDIANA.

POULTRY FEEDER.

Application filed June 30,1924. Serial No. 723,322.

This invention relates I to improvements in poultry feeders. a

The primary object of this invention is the provision of a poultry feeder which is relatively'simple in construction, which will properly feed mash or other food therein to a trough portion thereof in an efficient manner, and in proper quantity.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a feeder or hopper for poultry specially constructed with a novel food regulator for a trough portion thereof by means of which a proper quantity of food will be allowed to pass into the trough.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a relatively simple and compact type of feeder embodying novel'means by which mash or other food substance therein Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description: 1

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this'specification, and whereinsimi- -lar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the "several vlews,

Figure 1 is a perspective View showing themanner in which the improved feeder is supported upon a wall in elevated rela-- 25, and which wall portion 28 is horizontally tion above a ground floor.

, Figure 2 is a cross sectional view taken through the improved feeder in its'supported relation, and

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view of certain novel features of this invention.

In'the drawing, wherein for the purposewhich is adapted for cooperation with a [supporting rack B, upon a wall C of a building.

Referring to details of the feeder A, the

same is preferably vconstructed of sheet metal, suitably galvanized or otherwise rendered rustroof and non-corroding, and the same inclu es a rear wall 15; end Walls 17; a front wall 18 connected in'fixed relation UNITED- STATES Pi'ATENT- OFFICE-. Q

with the rear wall 15 by means of the end walls 17, andso that therear and front walls 15 and 18. respectively are disposed in a diverging relation from the top of the feeder downwardly. 'At the top of the feeder aclosure 20 is hingedly connected at 21, adjacent the top edge of the rear wall 15, including forward and side, depending flanges 21 adapted to overlap outwardly of the front and side walls.

The upper edge of the rear wall 15 extends considerably above the upper edge of the front Wall 18,

and the upper edges of'the end walls 17 are suitably inclined so that the closure 20 rests upon an incline to the horizontal when the hopper or feeder isin position with the rear wall 15 vertically'disposed. With the top wall 20 so sloping, roosting of poultry on the hopper is prevented, and any foreign materials may fall from the closure, andit Wlll always assume a closed position inci-- (lent to gravity thereof. A diagonally disposed bottom wall portion 25 is provided, preferablybent from the rearwall' 15 at an obtuse angle thereto, and this bottom wall portion 25 extends downwardly and at its 3 lower edge is spaced just rearwardly of the bottom edge of the front wal'l 18. Asecond bottom wall portion 28' is also provided, preferably integral with the wall portion disposed when the feeder is in position, and

'of course disposed in a plane at an obtuse angle with respect to the wall'25; The wall portion 28 extends forwardly of the lower forwardly extended, at 31', for cooperation with the bottom Wall portion28 and trou h flange or front wall 30, in order to provi e a trough35 adapted to receive feed as it passes downwardly through a compartment 36 of the feeder,'and through the openin 38 s between the lower edge of the front we; '18 i andthe plane of the bottom wall portion 28. All jointed connections of the wall portions of the feeder housing above described are 'tion over the trough, which includes a bar 46 hingedly connected by straps ti longitudinally on a feeder housing, upon the front wall lfirjust upwardly of the lower rolled edge 39 thereof. A. front. bar 49 is also provided for restingrelation upon the rolled edge all of the trough wall 30, and suitable cross bars 50 are electric welded or etherwise suitably attached in connected relation with the longitudinally extending bars 46 and as; these cross bars 50 being in an evenly spaced parallel relation to glve sufficient room for the insertion of the head of one chicken therein.

. A novel type of regulatormemberoo is provided for adjustment across the openlng 3,8 whichv communicates the trough 35'with the compartment 36, to regulate the quantity of food .which may passthrough the opening 38, into the trough, and which will also regulate the level of the food in the trough, so that there can be no slopping of the same over the troughwalls. This closure member is preferably formed of sheet metal, at its upper end 56 being rolled inwardly and at its lower end- 57 having a .relatively large cylindrical roll outwardly of: the bodyfportion thereof. This regulator member 55 isprovided with transverse slots 1 58 thereinthrough whichv the screw threaded shanks 59 of bolts 60 extend; the latter being carried by the housing wall 18 just' upwardly of. the lower rolled portion 39,

and I said screw threaded shanks 59. beingadapted to recelve wing nuts 62 or analogous elements thereon for binding relation against the body of the regulator member 55, whereby to space the lower rolled edge 57 thereof any suitable distance above the v feeder bottom;28. I

As insome instances thefeed may stick in v the hopper, it is preferred to provide novel preventative means adjacent each stall or ,preferably between each of the cross bars 50 of ,the closure, in. the front .wall 18. To .thlsr endvopeningsAQ are provided in thehousing wall 18, and flexible. wire mesh I screening .42? supported outwardly thereof by. means, of substantially ring shaped sheet metal portions 43?, which are S-shaped in cross -se.ct1on, to provide suitable-flanges fo lower ends of which horizontal supporting crimping through the opening 40* and to receive the inner edges of the screenmg/lQ therein.

The supporting rack B may include a top rail 65 over which a U-shaped bracket 66 may be hooked; the latter'being secured as by riveting the outer surface of the rear wall 15 of thehopper housing. The vertical brace pieces 68 are provided,-at the pieces 69 are secured. A feeding platform 70 is supported at the outer ends of the horizontal pieces 69. In assembled relation the feeder is hooked over the rail 65, and as y the feeding platform 7 O is supported above a ground surface it can be readily understood that it-will be necessary for the-poultry to jump upwardly thereon in order to feed out of the trough-of the hopper. The front wall 30 of the hopper trough comes only to the rear edge of the feedingpla-tforin ,70, so that the poultry stand upon the platform '70 in order to feed out of the trough; If the feed becomes'stuck in the hopper compartment 86, it will be loosenedUf'ro'm time the wire mesh screening 42 in their endeavor to pick visible particles through said screening. The feeding will take place out of the trough' 35, and only "sufficient feed will be permitted to pass thereiniby proper regu-" lation of the member '55, according to' the consistencyor nature of the mash or food. From the foregoing description: of this invention it is apparent'that a :novel type of feeder hasbeen providedwhich will permit efficient feedingby poultry, and thefeatures of this feeder mayalso housed in connection with the feeding'of-liv e stock if so desired. '1

arrangement of parts may be made to the form of invention .hereinfshown and described, without departing fromithe spirit of this invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a feeder of the class described a supporting; rack providing a vertical wan attaching portion, horizontal: supporting arms and a platform which may be sup to time by the pecking of the poultry against ported in elevatedrelation above afl oor surface, a l'iousing providing a storage compartmonttherein and including a "trough way in connnunieation with the storage compartment through an opening at the'lower portion of said houslngand means support-' ing the housing upon the-vertical wall attaching portion in resting relation on the supportingarms'so that the platformis disposed outwardly of said'trough way." i

I 2. In a feeder of theclass described-the;

combination of a supporting rackrcompris mg a top rail having depending. vertical brace portions, the. brace portions at the lower ends thereof having horizontal. brace Various changes in'the shape, size, and I portions which at their free ends support a transverse horizontally disposed platform, a housing having a storage compartment therein and including a trough Way in communication With the storage compartment thru an opening at the lower portion of said housing, said housing including a rear Wall, and hooks on the rear Wall adapted for detachable hooking over the top rail of the supporting rack to support the housing on 1 is disposed just rearwardly of the platform, to permit poultry to perch on the platform 15 for feeding in said trough.

OWEN MENDENHALL. 

